Do you know everyone in the Scottish housing sector? A blog by Kirsty Wells

Your answer is probably “no”, but I can assure you that by attending the CIH Scottish Housing Festival you will give yourself the best chance of improving your network and making connections that will last your career.

When I attend the festival with my Housemark colleagues each year, they tell me that “I know everyone in housing in Scotland”.  The reality is I don’t, and as someone who will soon be approaching the fourth decade of my career (shock horror!), I know that each year there are new housing professionals joining our sector and therefore joining us at the festival.  On the other hand, there are many delegates who I do know and every year their chat and banter re-energises my passion for this sector and all that we try to do to enrich the lives of those we serve in communities across Scotland. 

This mix of new housing professionals with those of us in the later stages of our careers is so important - we must be open to learning from each other, recognising each other’s perspectives, and supporting each other to develop and learn.

There is no better place to do this than at the CIH Scottish Housing Festival in 2024, as a delegate, exhibitor or speaker and, better still, if you are a CIH member your attendance won’t cost you a penny. I have attended in all of those capacities since my first conference as a housing student in Dundee in 1996. 

In whichever role you attend, you will speak to new people, gain new insights and be challenged to reflect on our sector’s challenges and opportunities during your time away from ‘business as usual’.  What do you want to achieve as a housing professional? Is it important to you to be recognised as a professional in the same way as a teacher or a social worker?

I will have been a member of CIH for 30 years in 2024 (joining as a Stirling student in 1994) and being a professional is personally important to me and underpins my values which drive me to work well every day. Come to the festival in Glasgow and join the debate about why it matters to have a housing qualification – or maybe it doesn’t matter to you - and that’s just as important a perspective for us to hear.  The key is that the festival hosts and encourages debate so come and join in!

As Chair of WISH Scotland I am excited that WISH is sponsoring the exhibition drinks reception at the end of day one so again, come and join in!  Tell us your views about what you think the role of WISH Scotland should be in encouraging networking and opportunities to #hearhervoice - the campaign of Tracey McEachran, WISH's President to encourage women to make our voices heard at events and conferences.

And if you don’t know me – then don’t be shy, please come and say hi 😊

Scotland's Housing Festival 2024